The Ponderosa Stomp #5, Night 2

Normally held each year at the Rock 'n Bowl in New Orleans, The Ponderosa Stomp this year found a temporary home in Memphis at the Gibson Showcase. Situated one block south of Beale St. it was an ideal location for the stomp with live on 3 separate stages form 5PM until 2AM on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 9th and 10th (a 3rd night with a smaller number of acts was added later for Monday, May 8th).

Dr. Ira Padnos

Gail, Scotty and Porkchop

Boots Randolph and Bucky Barrett

Put on by Scotty's friend Dr. Ira Padnos, this year the festival was held as a fund-raiser to help the musicians of New Orleans victimized by Hurricane Katrina. Scotty has played this event in the past and was one of the first to sign on this year for two nights. The first night he planned to bring over and perform with members of his British touring band, known normally as "The Grundy-Pritchard Band" which features Liam Grundy on keyboards, Pete Pritchard on bass, Dave Briggs on guitar, Jimmy Russell on drums and Paul Ansell on vocals. Unfortunately, Scotty underwent rotator cuff surgery shortly before the stomp and was unable to perform or sign autographs but he and Gail were on hand to introduce the band.

Ashley Kingman, Scotty and Gail

Deke Dickerson and Liam Grundy

Jimmy Russell

Sadly enough not all the members of the British band were able to come over either. David Briggs' wife Jane passed away suddenly prior to the stomp and Pete Pritchard's place was with his father who had been ill for sometime and was not expected to recover. Deke Dickerson, who with his band the Eccofonics served as the house band backing up many of the featured performers, traded off duties with his bass player Djordje Stijepovic to help fill out Scotty's band. Filling in for Dave and Scotty on guitar was Ashley Kingman, a longtime friend of Paul Ansell's who is now living in Long Beach, CA and plays guitar for "Big Sandy". They did a phenomenal job and the performance by the band was one of the highlights of the Stomp.

Ashley Kingman and Paul Ansell

Liam Grundy, Djordje Stijepovic, Paul Ansell and Ashley Kingman

Djordje Stijepovic, Jimmy Russell, Paul Ansell and Ashley Kingman

James V. Roy
May 2006

Just a few pictures of a few of the many acts that performed this evening.

Johnny Jones

Eddie Bond with Travis Womack and Deke Dickerson

BB Cunningham and James Burton

Sonny Burgess and DJ Fontana backed by Deke Dickerson and the Eccofonics

• 5:00pm - 5:30pm Lil Buck Sinegal and the Topcats featuring Stanley Buckwheat Dural
  With Special Guest Herbert Hardesty

• 5:30pm - 6:15pm Warren Storm and Lazy Lester backed by Lil Buck and the Topcats

• 6:15pm - 6:45pm Johnny Jones

• 7:00pm - 8:00pm BB Cunningham and James Burton

• 8:15pm - 9:00pm Sonny Burgess and DJ Fontana backed by Deke Dickerson and the Eccofonics presented by Sun Studios

• 9:15pm - 10:00pm Scotty Moore and his English Band

• 10:15pm - 11:15pm Hayden Thompson

• 11:30pm - 12:15pm William Bell backed by Lil Buck and the Topcats

• 12:30am - 2:00am The Fabulous Wailers

Our deepest sympathies to David, Peter and their families

Jane Ruth Briggs
Aug 8, 1955 - Apr 26, 2006

Albert William Pritchard
Feb 19, 1921 - May 11, 2006